With the coronavirus stats going in the right direction, all of us at C&G Newspapers look forward to resuming publication of the St. Clair Shores Sentinel and Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle on May 27th. All other C&G newspapers will begin publishing on June 10th (Advertiser-Times on June 24th). In the meantime, continue to find local news on our website and look for us on Facebook and Twitter.

Attention Readers: Find Us in Your Mailbox Soon

With the coronavirus stats going in the right direction, all of us at C&G Newspapers look forward to resuming publication of the St. Clair Shores Sentinel and Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle on May 27th. All other C&G newspapers will begin publishing on June 10th (Advertiser-Times on June 24th). In the meantime, continue to find local news on our website and look for us on Facebook and Twitter.

ROYAL OAK — Gov. Rick Snyder put pen to paper Jan. 6 and signed a controversial bill focused on campaign finance reform that city commissioners had asked the governor to veto two weeks earlier.

City commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution Dec. 21 against Senate Bill 571 because of a provision they said would prohibit school districts, governments and other public bodies and authorities from sending any communication to residents that mentions an upcoming property tax millage or other local ballot measure within 60 days of a vote.

CLAWSON — Robert and Shari Kallmeyer have been providing the community with award-winning decorations for years during the Christmas season.

“I do it just because I enjoy it,” said Robert Kallmeyer. “It’s kind of my Christmas.”

The couple fills their Elmwood Avenue and Langley Boulevard corner lot with myriad decorations, including a lot of lights. Colorful lights fill their trees, home and garage, ranging from LED to icicle lights.

Zoo officials announced Jan. 5 that total attendance reached 1.48 million visitors in 2015, breaking the record of 1.36 million visitors set in 1997. Officials said the 2015 numbers mark the ninth consecutive year the zoo’s attendance exceeded 1 million visitors.

Detroit Zoo Communications Director Jennie Miller said she believes the new record was set as a result of many factors, including new exhibits, animals and attractions.

Senate Bill 13, which was sponsored by state Sen. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, updates state election law and disallows constituents from voting for single parties with the check of one box in polling places.

ROYAL OAK/CLAWSON — Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin considers his most recent success to be the transition to the new M-STEP standardized test, which yielded scores above state and county averages.

The test results for the exam, which had been administered in the spring, were released Dec. 17.

ROYAL OAK — Members of the City Commission unanimously adopted a resolution Dec. 21 asking Gov. Rick Snyder to veto a bill they feel will put a stop to needed communication before an election.

Commissioners said that Senate Bill 571 — supported by the state House and Senate — would prohibit school districts, governments and other public bodies and authorities from sending any communication to residents that mentions an upcoming property tax millage or other local ballot measure within 60 days of a vote.

ROYAL OAK — Arriving via FedEx, 20 gentoo penguins marched into the Detroit Zoo last month to nest in the Polk Penguin Conservation Center when construction wraps up this April.

Zoo officials said the aquatic birds – 10 females and 10 males – currently are chilling in a special quarantine area at the Penguinarium. People can recognize the long-tailed penguin by the white stripe extending across its head and its bright red-orange bill. It is the third-largest penguin, reaching a height of up to 30 inches and a weight of up to 20 pounds.

CLAWSON — All Greg Kucera Jr. needs now is some below-freezing temperatures so that he can begin building an ice rink for the community.

The planning commissioner, community volunteer and former city councilman received the official go-ahead Dec. 15 to construct a pop-up outdoor ice rink on the empty land fronting Main Street, one block north of 14 Mile Road on the west side of the street.

We asked local kids to send us their letters to pass along to Santa at the North Pole. All kids who submitted a letter have also been entered into a drawing to win an ice-skating party. We'll announce the winner in early January, so stay tuned.

OAKLAND COUNTY — To the homeless cats and dogs at the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center, don’t worry — Santa got your wish list.

All year round, the center accepts donations of items on its Amazon.com Wish List. Generous animal lovers can head to the Amazon website and purchase a variety of items, from dog treats to kitty litter, to be shipped directly to the nonprofit shelter.

Upcoming Events

The events in our calendar were submitted prior to the coronavirus crisis.
As efforts have increased to contain the spread of the coronavirus, many events have been canceled.
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On March 13, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order to cancel all events statewide that involve more than 250 people. It is recommended that you call ahead if you still intend to attend one of these events.